Thursday, September 8, 2011

The almost viral topic of swimming with/without wetsuits

Which style of preaching do you prefer? Hellfire and damnation,
or standing firm on your standards and beliefs (but in a less-emotional way)

Yesterday I noticed a Facebook status from Anne Cleveland that included a link to this article by Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association President, Scott Zornig. I read the whole thing and enjoyed it thoroughly.

The only thing I'd like "naked" OW Swimmers to avoid, is too much soapboxing. I don't like the name calling and overly aggressive "defending" of OW Swimming in its pure form. You can't really build up the sport by putting others down who choose to swim with wetsuits. I don't think we need to get caught up with the overblown media attention given to those who swim with wetsuits. I'd totally prefer the media to give attention to someone who is swimming with a wetsuit, than none at all!

Even though I understand the difference between swimming with/without a wetsuit, I don't really care nor most of the general public, whether the person who did a superhuman swimming feat did so with or without a wetsuit (or for that case, fins, hand paddles, snorkel, in a shark cage). I guess a part of me does care enough to want the details so I know how valid the accomplishment was, but still it's something to the person who did it. No need to attack them for it.

Bottom line, is it worth coming across to all except the truly converted that you're self righteous? You should stand up for what you believe in, but don't need to be antagonistic about it.

If you live in Utah and plan a marathon swim in the ocean, the best place to train is NOT in the pool! Not even in a freshwater reservoir. The best place to train for those conditions is in the Great Salt Lake! This precious resource needs protection and understanding. Learn more about the lake and don't be another "ignernt" local.

My Preferred Swim Safety Devices

Unlike when you train in a pool, when you train in open water you don't have a lifeguard there watching you and making sure you're safe.

With open water, there are potentially even more hazards than when swimming in a pool. That is why it is very important to consider a safety device.

The things I look for in a safety device (in addition to whether it can actually keep me afloat in an emergency) are:

Visibility - does the item provide greater visibility for boats and stands out enough to be easily seen from shore.

Waterproof storage and ability to stow fuels - For those long swims I like the ability to get access to a drink or a solid. Also would be nice to stow GPS/phone for distance tracking and emergency phone calls if necessary.

Lack of drag - If it has a serious amount of drag I will not want to train with it.

With those primary objectives there are three safety devices that I support in this order:

Safer Swimmer Device (SSD) - This is the more affordable option but is weaker than the Swimmer Buddy in the accessibility to fuels area, and has slightly more drag than the Swimmer Buddy, but still a very good choice.

Swim Safe - It is designed primarily to be used as a device to be deployed using a CO2 cartridge if you run into trouble. But can be blown up like the SSD and pulled behind you. It has very little drag, but lack any storage abilities.